Clipper update: Eric Gordon out vs. Hornets

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Eric Gordon has the youthful optimism thing going.

Unfortunately for Gordon, attitude can’t completely ease the pain of an ailing left shoulder. Gordon was saying after the Clippers’ morning shoot around at New Orleans Arena that it would be a game-time call.

Then Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro wandered over.

Del Negro: “I don’t know. Are you playing or no?”

Gordon: “Huh?”

Del Negro: “You’re not playing.”

Gordon suffered a deep bone bruise to his left shoulder in Saturday’s double overtime loss at Utah. He has been resting it and hasn’t even started shooting again.

“He’s better today, then if he goes in and gets hit again, he could be out a week,” Del Negro said. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense. He’s a tough kid. He’s a strong, powerful kid, so for him to not play, he’s got to be pretty sore.”

So it’s not a stretch to say Gordon is doubtful for Wednesday’s game at San Antonio. And what of Baron Davis, who has missed the last four games? Del Negro wasn’t sure if Davis, bothered by a swollen left knee, was ready to return Tuesday night in New Orleans or against the Spurs.

-- Lisa Dillman